5 PR Tips for Dealing with Bad Press
It happens again and again that journalists cast a company in a negative vibe. Even if you do everything right, bad press can hit you.
What should you do in such a case? To stop working with the responsible editor or a newspaper altogether is often the wrong way to go.
Some editors don’t shy away from spreading falsehoods for a good story. This then hurts your image and possibly leads to a loss of customers. Hence, the question arises: what response is appropriate? Therefore, we give you tips on how to become better at dealing with bad press.
1. Talk to the Critic
Even if you cannot speak well to a journalist after a critical article, you should seek the conversation. A good editor is interested in your point of view. If you treat him with courtesy, he should be ready to talk.
You can then point out any factual errors. If a critical point in the article is wrong, you can ask the editor to correct it.
2. Publish Your Perspective
You have several options for commenting on a negative article. This can be a letter to the editor, a comment on the newspaper’s website, or a reply. However, not every publisher grants you a response, i.e., your editorial contribution. You can then possibly obtain this right in court.
3. Contact the Editor-in-Chief
If your complaint falls on deaf ears with the damaging editor, you may be able to achieve more with his superior: Ideally, the editor-in-chief will ask for more positive reporting about you.
4. Refuse to Work
Newspapers and magazines can be powerful allies of your company. If you give your products a positive rating or report about your company anniversary, it is the best advertising.
You should therefore consider carefully whether you refuse to work with a journalist. However, if this brings you nothing but bad press, you can give him the cold shoulder.
5. Use Social Media
Should a newspaper article damage your image, you can react promptly on social media. A Facebook fan page, a company blog, or your website are platforms on which you can best reach your target group.
You can immediately reply to a false statement in the newspaper with an article. Even if they have become a target of criticism in social media, you can at Facebook and respond appropriately.
You have to do this regularly because there is no control over what newspaper editors write about you.
Takeaway
With our 5 tips, you can now positively affect the reporting and strengthen your image. Finally, don’t be tempted to believe that the PR advisors who drum the loudest and tweet the most are the best. My experience shows me that the opposite is more the case. Good PR consultants.
In fact, reliable PR managers do not focus on themselves but on those they communicate with or advise. But of course, there are still some points that smaller companies, in particular, should pay attention to.
